PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Caleb Padilla (ranked 7657 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anders Sten (ranked 5807 p4p, 0 weight class). Anders Sten has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Padilla
vs
Sten

158 cm
24
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

186 cm
20
198 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Caleb Padilla!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anders Sten!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Chris Downing and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Padilla shoots for a takedown but Sten saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Padilla fails with a takedown attempt.

Sten closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Padilla pushes Sten away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Sten gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Sten decides to stand up, so the ref orders Padilla to his feet.

Sten drives through with a takedown into Padilla's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Padilla holds on and takes a little breather.
Sten has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Padilla is proving hard to escape from.
Padilla wants to stand up but Sten is controlling him.
Padilla controlling the position.
Sten wants to control from the top but Padilla keeps moving.
Padilla is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sten working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Padilla really is a fat lump.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Sten stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Sten feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Padilla wants to stand up but Sten is controlling him.

Sten gets to his feet. Padilla looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Sten throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Padilla was covering up waiting for the punch and Sten finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Padilla wants to get back to his feet but Sten is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sten missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sten throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sten throws a strike but Padilla rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Sten wants to get back to his feet but Padilla is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sten looking for a sweep. Not yet Sten, not yet.
Padilla is stalling in the full guard.
Sten keeping moving, preventing Padilla from controlling successfully.
Padilla looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Sten is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sten tries to strike from the bottom.
Sten is looking to stand up but Padilla isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Sten has his foot on Padilla's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Padilla works his way back into a safe position though.

Sten is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sten looks winded!
Padilla content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sten wants to stand up but Padilla is controlling him.

Sten looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Padilla controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Sten gets a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sten throws an elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anders Sten dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sten keeps the fight on the outside.

Sten gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Padilla jumps guard but Sten stands there with Padilla around his waist. Padilla gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sten throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Padilla has had enough of the clinch but Sten keeps him there for the moment.
Padilla tries to pull guard but Sten holds him up against the cage and eventually Padilla drops back down to his feet.
Padilla blocks the elbow strike.
Padilla fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Caleb Padilla. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Padilla avoids a wild elbow strike from Sten.
Sten pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Padilla avoids a wild elbow strike from Sten.
Padilla fails to pull guard.
Sten misses with an elbow strike.

Padilla breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sten has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Padilla tries to clinch but Sten moves out of range.

Sten has managed to clinch.
Sten creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Padilla blocks the elbow strike.
Sten throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Sten misses with an elbow over the top.
Sten lands an elbow just above Padilla 's eye.

It looks like Caleb Padilla has been cut.
Padilla fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Padilla is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sten to keep the fight standing.
Sten pushes off an throws an elbow but Padilla leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Padilla jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sten walks away with a smile on his face. Padilla gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Padilla gets caught flat footed, as Sten shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Padilla wants to sweep here but Sten controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sten decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Padilla, up you get!
Sten throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Padilla.
Padilla fails with the takedown

and Sten moves into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Padilla blocks an elbow strike.
Sten throws an elbow that misses.

Padilla manages to pull guard.

Padilla manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Sten throws a right and a left that both miss.
Padilla tries to clinch up but Sten circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Padilla is looking to clinch.
Padilla tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A bone on bone clash there as Sten blocks the leg kick.

Sten shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Sten was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Padilla is trying to get back to his feet.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Sten. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Sten misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Padilla dodges the ground and pound from Sten.
Sten wants to lay and pray for a moment but Padilla keeps working.

Sten stands up.
Sten is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sten instigates a clinch.
Padilla drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sten gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Sten pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Sten pushes off an throws an elbow but Padilla leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Sten throws an elbow that misses.
Sten creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Sten throws an elbow but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anders Sten showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Caleb Padilla's cut.
That's time! Padilla's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sten has taken the fight to the clinch.
Padilla jumps guard but Sten stands there with Padilla around his waist. Padilla gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Sten just misses with a elbow thrown towards Padilla's brow.

Padilla's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Sten manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Padilla on his heels. He'll look to pass Padilla's guard now, I'm sure.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Padilla manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Sten misses with an elbow over the top.
Padilla is trying to break the clinch but Sten is controlling him.
Sten lands an elbow inside.
Padilla blocks an elbow strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Padilla tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sten just stands there and leans against the cage.
Sten pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Sten pushes off an throws an elbow but Padilla leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Padilla blocks the elbow strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Sten just misses with a elbow thrown towards Padilla's brow.
Padilla blocks an elbow strike from Sten.

Padilla gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Sten regains guard.
Sten looking to control.

Sten escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Padilla gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Sten looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sten takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Padilla decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Sten bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Padilla bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Padilla fails with a takedown attempt.
Sten tries to counter with a clinch but Padilla shakes him off and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Caleb Padilla. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Padilla tries for a takedown but Sten circles away easily
and Sten counters with a series of strikes. Padilla will be more careful next time no doubt.

Sten gets a takedown into half guard.
Padilla tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Sten manages to move to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Padilla wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Padilla bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Padilla trying to control but Sten is working from the bottom.
Padilla sitting in guard here, content to control.

Sten escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Padilla gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Padilla trying to control but Sten is working from the bottom.
Padilla is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sten wants to stand up but Padilla is controlling him.
Sten seems keen to control Padilla's posture.

Sten looking for a guillotine here but Padilla defends easily.
Padilla controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Padilla wants to control from the top but Sten keeps moving.
Caleb Padilla has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anders Sten is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Padilla working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sten's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Caleb Padilla.
I think Sten has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anders Sten!